Transport of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in highly vulnerable karst systems

Fluxes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated along the route of transport in a south German karst system. Atmospheric deposition, seepage water in caves and spring water at the outlet of the catchment were monitored continuously over 1.5 years allowing the establishment of an input/output mass balance at the catchment scale. The results reveal that, even in the highly vulnerable karst catchment, PAHs are effectively retained in the soils. Only during high discharge events, such as snowmelt in spring, increasing PAH concentrations at the outlet of the catchment indicates a mobilization of the pollutants. These events are typically correlated with increasing particle concentrations. Based on our results, we conclude that particle-facilitated transport is the dominating cause of PAH mobilization. In summary, PAHs accumulate over time in soils and only occasionally high discharge events cause a short concentration pulse to be flushed through the karst system.     

Correlating element atmospheric deposition and cancer mortality in Portugal: data handling and preliminary results

This study, framed within geographical epidemiology, presents preliminary findings concerning the association between the concentrations of chemical elements obtained through atmospheric biomonitoring with lichens and cancer mortality in the Portuguese population. Exploratory analyses were performed to identify potential confounders for the relationships between chemical elements and neoplasm mortality and to assess the extent of their interference. The results of this study highlight some methodological and conceptual difficulties inherent to observational and geographical studies, in the specific context of the Portuguese population, and the challenge posed by the large numbers of pollutants considered.     

Barriers to the diffusion of renewable energy: studies of biogas for transport in two European cities

The diffusion of renewable energy – particularly in transport – in cities may facilitate the transition away from fossil fuels, improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Past studies on this topic have focused on system modelling of diffusion pathways, technology characteristics and also estimations of future availability of renewable energy, whilst neglecting the agency of producers and users. This article assesses barriers to the diffusion of biogas for transportation in cities from a system and actor perspective. Using document studies and interviews in the cities of Basel, Switzerland, and Odense, Denmark, we identify the presence of conflicting political priorities and shifting strategic objectives, resulting in mixed signals concerning the role and viability of biogas for transportation. This underlines the importance of public sector support and coherent design and implementation of strategy and policy enabling the diffusion of renewable energy.     

破碎站粉尘逸散规律及降尘技术的数值模拟及其应用

针对露天矿破碎站粉尘污染严重、治理技术中存在的缺陷,提出了超声波雾化喷雾降尘技术。以平朔安家岭煤矿为例,根据破碎站区域粉尘污染情况,应用数学模型对破碎站粉尘逸散规律进行解算,将模拟结果与现场实测数据对比,确定对卸载坑采用150~300μm雾滴粒径和对破碎机各产尘点采用1~10μm雾滴粒径的机体梁上外喷雾方式,通过对采取治理方案后破碎站粉尘浓度逸散的数值模拟和现场实际应用后的测试数据,显示全尘和呼吸性粉尘降尘效率分别达到94%和82%。结果表明,超声波喷雾降尘技术能有效降低破碎站粉尘浓度,保障了作业人员工作环境和安全。     

China’s air pollution reduction efforts may result in an increase in surface ozone levels in highly polluted areas

China, as a fast growing fossil-fuel-based economy, experiences increasing levels of air pollution. To tackle air pollution, China has taken the first steps by setting emission–reduction targets for nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) in the 11th and 12th Five Year Plans. This paper uses two models—the Energy–Environment–Economy Model at the Global level (E3MG) and the global Chemistry Transport Model pTOMCAT—to test the effects of these policies. If the policy targets are met, then the maximum values of 32 % and 45 % reductions below ‘business as usual’ in the monthly mean NO_x and SO₂ concentrations, respectively, will be achieved in 2015. However, a decrease in NO_x concentrations in some highly polluted areas of East, North-East and South-East China can lead to up to a 10% increase in the monthly mean concentrations in surface ozone in 2015. Our study demonstrates an urgent need for the more detailed analysis of the impacts and designs of air pollution reduction guidelines for China.     

硅胶固载季鏻离子液体对CO_2的吸附

采用嫁接法制备了硅胶固载季鏻双三氟甲烷磺酰亚胺盐离子液体,并将其用于对CO2的吸附,考察了吸附剂的吸附等温线及循环使用性,并运用均相表面扩散模型(HSDM)研究了吸附动力学。采用FTIR和TG等技术对试样进行了表征。表征结果显示:离子液体已成功固载到硅胶上;煅烧活化硅胶对季鏻离子液体(C-Si O2-P4T)的固载量为5.39%(w);固载试样基本保持了硅胶的孔道特征。实验结果表明:C-Si O2-P4T具有较高的CO2平衡吸附量,且能显著提高CO2/N2吸附选择性,循环使用6次仍保持良好的吸附能力;HSDM可较好地拟合CO2在C-Si O2-P4T内的扩散行为,40℃下的扩散系数在10-7 m2/s数量级,与硅胶同级,优于纯季鏻离子液体。     

挥发性污染物苯在水气界面耦合扩散的浓度分布

为研究苯水体泄漏后水气污染的浓度时空分布,利用挥发性污染物水气耦合扩散模型进行预测计算,预测结果与水槽实验相结合,准确地描述了苯在水气界面耦合扩散的浓度分布规律：沿水流方向（x轴）浓度随时间向前推移,距离投放点越远,浓度峰值越小,出现时刻越晚;沿水流深度方向（y轴）浓度分布关于投放点z=0.20 m纵断面对称,在水气界面和空间变化界面（水槽边缘）浓度出现极小值,随着挥发量的增加,浓度峰值出现的位置由水中推移至大气中;沿水流宽度方向（z轴）浓度由投放点向两侧推移。分析了亨利常数、水流速度及风速对苯耦合扩散浓度分布的影响。     

Decabromodiphenyl ethane and decabromodiphenyl ether in Swedish background air

Decabromodiphenyl ethane (DPDPE) is a flame retardant that has been on the market for more than 20 years and is used as a replacement for decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209). Environmental data on DPDPE are scarce but for BDE-209, studies have shown that long-range transport in the atmosphere leads to contamination of remote regions. Given their similar physical-chemical properties, we hypothesized that this is also true for DPDPE. In this study we explored the European continent as a source for DBDPE by collecting air samples at a back-ground location in southern Sweden. Twelve samples with stable air mass back trajectories over the 24 h sampling period were analysed. BDE-209 and 5 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were also included in the study. The concentration ranges of DBDPE and BDE-209 were similar, 0.077-7.9 and 0.093-1.8 pg m⁻³ air, respectively. The highest concentrations were detected when the air originated from the European continent and the lowest during periods with rather stagnant air over southern Scandinavia. The concentrations of DBDPE and BDE-209 did not co-vary, indicating that there are different major sources of the two compounds. In air, the compounds measured in this study are predominantly associated with particles. PAHs in the atmosphere are known to originate primarily from combustion processes and their concentrations were highly correlated with several measures of atmospheric particle concentration, i.e. PM 10, PM 2.5, soot, and N 450 (number of particles in the size range approximately 420-450 nm). No clear correlations were found between the concentrations of DBDPE or BDE-209 and any of the measures of particle concentrations, indicating that the emissions of these are not related to the major sources of emissions of soot or small particles.     

Atmospheric mercury pollution at an urban site in central Taiwan: mercury emission sources at ground level

Total gaseous mercury (Hg) (TGM), gaseous oxidized Hg (GOM), and particulate-bound Hg (PBM) concentrations and dry depositions were measured at an urban site in central Taiwan. The concentrations were 6.14 ± 3.91 ng m⁻³, 332 ± 153, and 71.1 ± 46.1 pg m⁻³, respectively. These results demonstrate high Hg pollution at the ground level in Taiwan. A back trajectory plot shows the sources of the high TGM concentration were in the low atmosphere (<500 m) and approximately 50% of the air masses coming from upper troposphere (>500 m) were associated with low TGM concentrations. This finding implies that Hg is trapped in the low atmosphere and comes from local Hg emission sources. The conditional probability function (CPF) reveals that the plumes of high TGM concentrations come from the south and northwest of the site. The plume from the south comes from two municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs). However, no significant Hg point source is located to the northwest of the site; therefore, the plumes from the northwest are hypothesized to be related to the combustion of agricultural waste. Dry deposition fluxes of Hg measured at this site considerably exceeded those measured in North America. Overall, this area is regarded as a highly Hg contaminated area because of local Hg emission sources.